Testimonials
Individual Stories
Mukarugaba Xavera – Karongi district, Twumba sector
Ufitutuza Mariya – Karongi district, Gitesi sector
Kanzayire Bernadette – Karongi District, Bwishyura sector
Voices from Rwanda
“Honestly, I had heard about cervical cancer and decided to go for a screening.”
That’s how Beatrice Mukandayisenga from the village of Bupfunie in Karongi, Rwanda, responded when asked if she had heard about HPV and cervical cancer.
What happened next?
A week later, she was called and told that she had tested positive for the virus that causes cancer. She was scared and wondered: will I die now? But she received treatment and medicine, as well as a follow-up appointment in a year. The doctors said she didn’t need to worry, because she had been fortunate, it had been detected early.
She went back home to her village and started telling all the women she knew that they should also get screened, because even if you feel healthy, you may still carry the virus.
“I heard the news at the health post for my child’s treatment. The doctors encouraged people to get screened, and I thought it was a good idea. They taught me how to collect my own sample. After seven days, I got the results, they found I had the virus, but it hadn’t yet progressed. They advised me how to take care of myself and told me to return after a year to check if it had healed or advanced. I want to tell all Rwandan women to get screened, because this disease only shows symptoms when it has already caused severe damage. I also thank the Rwandan government for caring for mothers and the volunteers as well. May God bless them.”
– Budesiyanne
“I sought medical help when I started to bleed.”
Elekta Foundation had the opportunity to meet Dativa Nyiraganidna from the Rebero area in the Gicumbi district in Rwanda, to hear about her experience with cervical cancer and the #OneEggADay program.
She went to the hospital and underwent various tests. Finally, the results showed that she had cervical cancer. When she received the news, she was devastated, but the doctors supported and comforted her.
She had lost so much weight that she was down to 38 kilos. But the doctors and health staff continued to visit her and encouraged her daily to eat, which helped her regain her strength. She slowly began to gain weight again and now weighs 58 kilos, so she is very grateful to the program that made sure she received eggs.
She encourages all women to go for screening as soon as possible, because if she had known about the cancer earlier, it would not have caused her so much suffering.